This Week's Guests:

• Bill StoneEngineer and explorer Bill Stone not only puts his life at risk exploring the deepest caves in the world, he also designs the specialized SCUBA equipment needed for the journey. Stone joins Boyd Matson to talk about his upcoming expedition to Mexico where he hopes to explore and map what he believes will be the deepest cave in the world. Stone also talks about his work designing robots that will explore frozen planets looking for extraterrestrial life. Learn More

• Staffan Widstrand
Wildlife photographer Staffan Widstrand joins Boyd in the studio to talk about the Wild Wonders of Europe—yes some do still exist! Widstrand says big, emblematic animals are making a major comeback in most European countries. Widstrand has organized a team of nearly 60 photographers to travel all over Europe to capture images of the wild and the wildlife that abounds. Learn More

• Kristofer Helgen
National Geographic Emerging Explorer Kristofer Helgen discovered the largest species of bat in the world not by trekking to a remote location, but by digging deep into the Smithsonian’s mammal collection. Helgen is the curator of mammals at the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History, and he joins Boyd to talk about how there may be a lot more undiscovered species not only in the wild but also in dusty drawers and closets of museums. Learn More

• Béla Fleck
Virtuoso banjo player Béla Fleck recently took his instrument on a journey back to its African roots. Fleck joins Boyd in the studio to talk about his trip and the resulting documentary film Throw Down Your Heart. Fleck, who takes the banjo in ever new directions playing everything from bluegrass to Bach, shares his music with Boyd and the listening audience. Learn More

• Ron O’Dor
Ron O’Dor is the Chief Scientist for the Census of Marine Life, a 10-year scientific initiative to assess life in the world’s oceans. O’Dor explains how the same creatures often found in the Arctic Ocean are often also found a world away in the Antarctic. Learn More

• Jeffrey Johnson
National Geographic grantee Jeffrey Johnson specializes in volcanoes and the sounds they produce. Johnson tells Boyd about the dangers of watching volcanoes erupt and also shares some of the amazing sounds he’s recorded from active volcanoes. Learn More